The notoriously unsentimental Patriots mastermind waived a key player on Thursday, three days shy of a showdown with the Packers and right in the middle of Turkey Day festivities. And oh, pass the stuffing.

Safety Don Jones is a main cog on special teams in his second pro season, working on the kickoff coverage, punt coverage and punt return units while recording the third-most special teams tackles on the team (eight), according to ESPN Boston.

Belichick, with a long history of unblinking pink slips, unceremoniously traded team leader Logan Mankins on the eve of the season. After an uneven start, the Patriots are 9-2 and widely considered the class of the AFC.